Chapter 96

When Zhang Tie and Doug returned to the small square in front of the Wild Wolf Castle with a pile of things, the square was several times more bustling than when Zhang Tie had just left. At several trading points, students were queuing up in groups, exchanging items they had for goods brought by the merchant caravan.

The things that Zhang Tie and the other members of the Airplane Brotherhood brought were mainly leather, including five wolf skins. Among these, Zhang Tie had three, one porcupine skin, and two rabbit skins, which weren't worth much but could still be useful when exchanged for food. Although these skins had been treated with lime, they still had a strange smell when placed in the tree house. This time, being able to get rid of them made the study room a bit cleaner.

"Big Head, what do you want to exchange your three wolf skins for?" Barry asked Zhang Tie.

"Exchange them all for dry rations."

"Don't you want to exchange them for money? These things are worth about 20 silver coins!"

"We can talk about money later. Right now, everyone needs food. Let's exchange them for food. As long as we get through this trial, everything will be fine!" Zhang Tie smiled.

Barry gave Zhang Tie a strange look. For some reason, Barry felt that Zhang Tie was becoming more composed when dealing with things these days. The lazy and calm demeanor was now mixed with a sense of decisiveness and firmness. Could it be because of practicing the Iron Blood Divine Fist? No, Barry couldn't convince himself. Everyone was practicing from the same manual, but why did only Zhang Tie show such a significant change? And this change was at the spiritual level, affecting his demeanor. Barry couldn't figure out how Zhang Tie, who spent his days mining and practicing with everyone else, could have a breakthrough in spirit. Could mining have such an effect? Should he try it too?

"Alright. You can wander around a bit. Barry and I will handle this!" Doug, who had been flattering Zhang Tie for a week, grinned and patted his chest.

Indeed, there was no need for all three of them to queue up. Seeing Doug and Barry there, Zhang Tie started to wander around the small square. There were many people gathered at the gate of Wild Wolf Castle, so Zhang Tie went over to see what was happening.

As he approached, Zhang Tie heard a few people excitedly discussing the task board.

"If I could get a goose neck herb this time, one goose neck herb could be exchanged for a good sword. That's worth about one gold coin!"

"There's also the golden wolf. If you can kill a golden wolf, the bone marrow from its spine is worth much more than a goose neck herb. Besides a sword, you get three kilograms of meat and seven kilograms of dry rations! Killing a golden wolf means you won't have to worry for a few weeks..."

"But these things aren't easy to get. Didn't you see the announcement? These two items are only found in the Crescent Grassland, which is connected to the Wild Wolf Valley, about thirty kilometers away. They say the wolf packs in the Crescent Grassland are dozens of times more numerous than in the Wild Wolf Valley. Many of them appear in groups of dozens or even hundreds. One wrong move, and you could end up dead..."

Zhang Tie frowned and pushed his way into the crowd, standing under the task board. At the top of the board were indeed tasks related to hunting golden wolves and collecting goose neck herbs. To help people recognize them, there were large pictures of a golden wolf and a goose neck herb hanging on either side of the board. A tall, thin man with a silk hat was standing under the board, enthusiastically encouraging the gathered students.

"Master Abian is the chief alchemist of Black Flame City. The bone marrow of the golden wolf and the goose neck herb are two essential ingredients for his restorative potion. Do you know what a restorative potion is? It's a magical potion that can help our warriors in Black Flame City recover quickly from injuries and regain their strength on the battlefield..." The man with the silk hat raised his hands and shouted, "Brave young people, do you know what situation Black Flame City is facing now? The evil Norman Empire has already raised its sword against Black Flame City, against your families. A bloody battle with the Norman Empire's army is imminent. For Black Flame City, for your family members who have joined the military, please bring the bone marrow of the golden wolf and the goose neck herb. Each one could save the life of a loved one. The noble chief alchemist Abian of Black Flame City needs these items. Black Flame City and your loved ones need these items. Brave young people, warriors of Black Flame City, take up your swords and head to the Crescent Grassland. Prove your courage with the bodies of golden wolves and the goose neck herbs. Look, so many young and beautiful girls are watching you, waiting for you to prove yourselves..."

The man's words were highly inflammatory, and his passionate performance stirred the crowd. Many people were agitated, and everyone was discussing the situation with the Norman Empire and Black Flame City for the first time.

"Tell me, what's happening between the Norman Empire and Black Flame City?" a young man in the crowd shouted.

"Didn't you know? Didn't your teachers tell you? Recently, something terrible happened in Black Flame City. The Northern Garrison of the Norman Empire is preparing to invade Black Flame City, to invade your homes. Black Flame City is at its most vulnerable and needs brave people to step forward..."

The crowd was slightly agitated. They had been here for nearly twenty days, and many didn't know what was happening in Black Flame City. Now, with this man's encouragement, everyone was uncertain.

Zhang Tie frowned, instinctively feeling that something was wrong with what the man in the silk hat was saying. Others might not know what a restorative potion was, but he had worked in Tang De's general store for a long time. He knew that even the lowest-grade restorative potion cost no less than ten gold coins per dose in Black Flame City. This expensive item was not something ordinary people or soldiers could afford. This man was using lies to incite the crowd to go to the Crescent Grassland, making them lose their calm, clearly with ill intentions.

Just as the crowd was getting restless, Zhang Tie saw Jerome frowning and looking at the man with a hateful expression. Zhang Tie had an idea.

Zhang Tie quietly slipped back into the crowd, crouched down, and shouted.

"Don't listen to him. This bastard is lying, trying to make us go to the Crescent Grassland as cannon fodder. A single dose of the simplest restorative potion costs more than ten gold coins, which our families can't afford. We should only listen to our teachers. If there's something we need to know, our teachers will tell us. Don't listen to this unknown guy spreading fear..."

The young men in the crowd were easily swayed but not stupid. After Zhang Tie's reminder, many of them woke up. Who was this guy? Why should they believe him? A restorative potion costing at least ten gold coins had nothing to do with them. Why should they risk going to the Crescent Grassland?

Samira, standing under the board, was furious. He was about to incite a group of students to do his bidding, but someone in the crowd immediately jumped out to disrupt his plans, exposing his true intentions.

"Who is it? Who is speaking? Step forward!" Samira shouted, his face twisted with anger, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Zhang Tie, who had quietly moved to a different spot, pinched his nose and changed his voice, shouting again, "This guy's true colors have been exposed. He's angry and showing his true face. Look at the terrible triangular eyes on his face, the shape of a snake's head. That's the mark of a treacherous person. A good person wouldn't have such terrible triangular eyes. Tell your friends not to fall for this guy's tricks. Don't be used and still count the money for the person who tricked you. We're in the Wild Wolf Valley, and we won't be tricked into going to the Crescent Grassland..."

The crowd erupted in discussion. Many began to closely examine Samira's eyes. The terms "terrible triangular eyes," "snake's head shape," and "mark of a treacherous person" were very effective. Samira was furious, his face turning purple, but he had to force a smile in the face of the crowd's skepticism.

As the crowd was in chaos, Zhang Tie quietly slipped away to meet up with Barry and Doug. Jerome, standing at a distance, had a very interesting expression. From the moment Zhang Tie spoke up, he recognized Zhang Tie's voice. Zhang Tie's performance once again shocked him. He hadn't expected Zhang Tie to immediately spot the flaws in Samira's words and, through a bit of chaos, make the students wary. Zhang Tie had done exactly what he wanted, and the effect was surprisingly good. The students were already discussing Samira's appearance and his sinister triangular eyes.

Zhang Tie's three wolf skins were exchanged for a little over four kilograms of dry rations. Barry said the price was a bit low. The three wolf skins, originally worth over 20 silver coins, were forced down to just a few silver coins by the merchants, so they could only get this much. Doug also looked indignant.

However, Zhang Tie didn't mind and even comforted Barry and Doug. As the three were about to leave Wild Wolf Castle, Zhang Tie saw Bulwick. Everyone in the square saw Bulwick, who was walking confidently with a large group of people. Each person in the group was holding several wolf skins, and a quick count showed nearly a hundred wolf skins...

Everyone made way for Bulwick. At that moment, Bulwick was the center of attention. Looking at Bulwick's face, which was trying to hide his satisfaction with a calm expression, Zhang Tie suddenly thought of the man in the silk hat.

Could these two be working together?

This thought suddenly popped into Zhang Tie's mind.

What exactly happened in Black Flame City? Has the content of the letter I sent started to have an effect? Are my parents and brother safe...

Some of the content of the man's words had quietly stirred Zhang Tie's nerves.

Not long after Zhang Tie left Wild Wolf Castle, the temporary supervision committee responsible for the trial posted an announcement on the square, introducing some major events that had occurred in Black Flame City and the Andaman Alliance in recent weeks. All the students were shocked to see that in less than a month, so much had happened between Black Flame City and the Andaman Alliance, with the Norman Empire and the Sun God Dynasty suddenly showing their fangs.

Is the war between the Andaman Alliance and the Norman Empire and the Sun God Dynasty going to be the backdrop for our graduation?

A special atmosphere began to envelop the Wild Wolf Valley!

...

There will be another chapter tonight. Please give me your recommendations and monthly votes! (To be continued...)

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